Mexican New Year’s Traditions at Sat Nam Fest Mexico!

At Sat Nam Fest Mexico, we’ll be ringing in the New Year with the music of Mirabai Ceibaand with the Mexican tradition of eating 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight. Each grape represents one wish for the new year, and you eat one grape at each stroke of the clock. By the time you get to the last stroke of midnight, your mouth and cheeks are full of grapes and wishes – what a fun way to start the new year! If you come to Sat Nam Fest Mexico you can ring in the New Year with Kundalini yoga, chanting, 12 grapes, and some of these other fun Mexican New Year traditions!

Lentils are said to bring good luck and prosperity in all aspects of your life. You can eat a spoonful of lentils, or give a handful of raw lentils to a friend or relative. At Sat Nam Fest Mexico there are sure to be lentils on the delicious vegetarian menu!

Mexican people will often give a small figurine of a sheep as a gift on New Year, as a symbol of good fortune and money. In Spanish, the word for wool is “lana,” and in Mexico it has taken on the meaning of money (in much the same way that the word “dough” does in English!). If you receive a sheep, tuck it behind the front door to bring prosperity to your life.

Ladies, there is a fun Mexican New Year tradition you might want to take part in. It’s said that the color of the underwear you wear on New Year’s will bring different things into you life. So it’s common for single women to wear red, symbolizing love and passion! You can also wear yellow for prosperity and more money, or white for hope and peace. Just be careful, because wearing colorful underwear with your white Kundalini yoga pants might make your wishes known to everyone! You can also wear shirts and other items in your chosen color if you don’t mind sharing your wishes with other people.

These Chakra Pants with Skirt will keep your New Year wishes secret!

Sat Nam Fest Mexico goers might be seen walking around with their suitcases on New Year, which is symbolic of the wish to travel more during the upcoming year. Of course they might be walking with a slight limp from having a gold coin in their shoe! Many people in Mexico will receive a gold coin from a friend or relative, and keep it in their left shoe during the night. They will then sleep with it under their pillow on New Year’s Eve, and keep it in a safe, secret place all year to guarantee having money in the new year.

If you happen to be in Vera Cruz for New Year, you might see people dressed up as old men, and dancing in the streets. Called “El Viejo,” these “old men” will get you to sing, dance, and have fun to ring in the new year. While Sat Nam Fest Mexico is held in Tepoztlan, there is sure to be dancing and singing there as well!

These are just a few of the Mexican New Year’s traditions Sat Nam Fest participants might take part in during their trip to Mexico. Come join us and be part of the fun!